Surf mattress



Feb. `11, 1930, H. B. MARSHALL n 1;'746709 SURF MATTREss Filed sept. 12,1928 Patented Feb. 11., 1930 HARRY B. MARSHALL, 0F LONG BEACH,CALIFORNIA SURF MATTRESS Application filed. September 12, 1928.

My invention pertains to surf mattresses of a type set forth in myPatents No. 1,307,825, dated J une 24, 1919, and No. 1,332,673, datedMarch 2, 1920.

` Difficulty has been experienced with inflated mattresses for use insurf bathing in that due to therough handling they obtain the fabric ofthe mattress pulls apart; and moreover, when the bathers carry thesemattresses along the beach they generally hold them by a rope on theside, which frequently tears the material Land spoils the mattress.

Therefore, an object of my invention is to so reinforce the fabric ofthe mattress at the sides that the strain from the ropes and from thelrough handling will be distributed over a greater extent of fabric thanin the prior types of surf mattresses.l Therefore in constructingthemattress with upper and lower layers of fabrics joined at the edges Iincorporate into the side edges reinforcing layers of canvas whichextend part way along the top and bottom ofthe mattress and are sewed tothe fabric at the top and bottom. In addition to this I have a foldedtape extending along the -marginof the seam on the inside thereof givingan additional reinforcing on the marginal edge of the mattress.Therefore when the loose rope secured to the marginal edge of themattress is attached to the outside seam the tension exerted by the ropeis distributed longitudinally of the marginal edge of the mattress andalso along the fabric of the top and bottom of the mattress. Thisconstruction of having the rope along the marginal edge of the mattressloose enables the bathers to grasp such rope and retain hold of themattress even in heavy surf Yand also facilitates the carrying of themattress on the beach.

Another feature and object of my invention is reinforcing thelongitudinal partitions having the inflatable tubes-therein.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my mattress partly broken away,

Fig. 2, is a cross section on the line 2 2 of Fig.y 1,

Serial No. 305,573.

Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of one edge of the mattress similar to thesection of Fig. 2.

In constructing my mattress I utilize up- "'55 per and lower sheets offabric 11 and 12.

' hese are joined with partitions`13 formed of fabric with fillers andrubber tubes 14 are positioned in the pockets between the .partitionsand the top and bottom of the mattress. Each 60 of the tubes has a valve15 at one end, and there is a cover fabric 16 at one endl of themattress secured to a l'lap 17 by lacing 18. AThis allows the tubes tobe inliated and then the valves covered over.

. The marginal construction of the mattress comprises internalreinforcing sheets 19 and 20 which are illustrated as securedrespectively to the upper and lower sheets 11 and 12 of the mattress bystitching 21 running longitudinally of the mattress and stitching 22running transversely thereof.

There is a reinforcing strip 23 which has a reverse fold 24 andinternalmarginal edges 25 adapted to extend longitudinally of the'75sheets 19 and 20. A longitudinal row of stitching 26 binds the sixlayers of fabric on the edge of the mattress. These six edges comprisethe margins of the upper and lower sheets 11 and 12 of the reinforcingsheets 19180 and 2O and of the folded strip 23. This stitching 26through so many plies of fabric gives a distinct ridge 27 extendinglongitudinall of the mattress on each side, and if desired the sameconstruction may be built onto the end of the mattress.

The rope 28 is secured to this ridge 27 by heavy stitching 29 which isalso secured through the six plies of fabric on the marginal edge of themattress. This rope is illustrated as being loose between the stitchesforming an effective hand grip for holding the mattress in the surf andfor carrying. i

By the above eonstructionit will be seen that the upper and lower sheetsof the fabric of the mattress are adequately reinforced at the marginaledgeof the sheets 19 and 20, these extending partly across the body ofthe mattress; and that the folded strip 23 functions to distribute thetearing stresses due to pulls '-100 on the rope longitudinally of themarginal seam. Therefore the danger of tearing the fabric of themattress or pulling the rope off the mattress is materially reduced overthe former constructions.

The end 30 of the mattress is reinforced much in the same nature as theopposite sides by having stitching 31 with inwardly extending stitching32 holding the reinforcing sheets in position.l The end 33 having thevalves is constructed with a reinforcing strip 34 fitted inside of theoutside fabric 35. An inner loop 36 may be made by folding the outsidefabric on the line 37. Thecover fabric 16 is preferably made by a longfold of fabover the top of the valves engaged by the cover fabric 16when this is drawn tight by the lacing 18. The loop 36 is provided witheyes 42 and the strip of fabric 40 extending past the valves 15 also haseyes 43, there being a lacing 44 through these eyes, thereby binding theends 0f the tubes 14 in the mattress.

The construction of the partitions 13 is effected by forming thesepartitions of two layers of fabric forming a narrow pocket in which istted a partition strip 13a. This strip may be made of wood or light thinmetal or any other suitable structure which will give a longitudinalreinforcing for the partitions 13. Therefore, when the tubes 14 areinflated there is a rigid longitudinal stiffness of the members andprevents buckling or Lbending of the members in a longitudinaldirection.

Various changes may be made in the principles of my invention withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof, as set forth in the description,drawings and claims.-

I claim: y

1. In a surf mattress having an inflatable structure therein, an outsidefabric top and 1 bottom cover having a marginal seam, a reinforcingsheet secured to t-he seam and eX- tendin inwardly inside of the upperand lower abrics andsecured thereto by stitches.

2. In a surf mattress having an inflatable Y inner structure, upper andlower fabric covers secured by a seam at the marginal edge, upper andlower reinforcing sheets secured inside vof the cover and to the seam,the reinforcing sheets being stitched to the covers, and a vfoldedfiller strip secured to the seam and fitting between the marginal edgesofthe reinforcing sheets.

vcovering fabrics with longitudinal pockets having inflatable tubestherein, two of the side edges having the marginal edges of the coverssecuredv by stitching with longitudinally extending reinforcing sheetsinside the upper and lower covers and secured to said covers bystitching and having a filler strip folded on its self with the foldbetween the reinforcing sheets,the reinforcing sheets and the fillerstrip being secured in the marginal stitching.

5. A surf mattress as claimed in claim 4, end stitching at one end ofthe mattress having reinforcing sheets and -a ller strip secured attheir marginal edge and at the fold y of the filler strip by stitchingto the marginal endof the upper and lower covers.

6. In a surf mattress having an upper and a lower cover with aninflatable structure therein and having a valve, a reinforcin stripsecured to the lower cover at one end an having stitching through themargin, a cover fabric secured to the stitching and havingV eyes, a flapsecured to the upper cover having eyes, and lacing between the saideyes.

7. In a surf mattress having an upper and a lower cover kwith aninflatable tube struc- `ture therein, a reinforcing strip secured to thelower cover adjacent one end, an inner flap of fabric stitched to themarginal end of the under cover and the reinforcing strip, said innerflap having eyes, eyes secured to the upper cover, and a lacing betweensaid eyes securing the inflatable structure in the mattress. f

8. In a surf mattress as claimed in claim 7, the inflatable structurehaving a valve extending upwardly through an aperture in the upper coverand an outer flap stitched to the marginal end of the lower fabric, thereinforcing strip and the inner flap, said outer flap extending over thevalve, a third flap secured to the uppencover, and lacing between theouter flap and the third flap.

9. A surf mattress having an outside fabric top and bottom withpartitions therein, a reinforcing structure secured to said partitions,

and inflatable air holders in the space between Yloo Olli

